{ Mormon Share } Old Birthday Song

This topic contains 6 replies, has 1 voice, and was last updated by Anonymous User 11 years, 3 months ago.

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December 31, 2013 at 4:52 pm #243035 Reply

Anonymous User
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My husband's family has a birthday song they sing that his grandmother said was an old primary song. I would love to find out any information about this song. "As years go by they seem to do the nicest things to you and every year you add one more you're twelve months dearer than before. A very happy birthday, a very happy birthday, a very happy birthday especially for you."
December 31, 2013 at 5:43 pm #243041 Reply

Anonymous User
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Interesting! Our family uses the exact same song, adding the regular "Happy Birthday to you" at the end. Another family I know switches the order, beginning with "A very happy birthday," following with the "As years go by" part, then ending with "Happy Birthday to you."

I have no idea of the origination of the song, though. It would seem possible that it's an old Primary song. I can't ask my mother, who taught us the song, as she is long deceased.
January 4, 2014 at 9:17 pm #243040 Reply

Anonymous User
Participant

The lyrics sound wonderful – but I wonder if someone could share the music or tune or something, such that we could begin using it, as well – Thanks!
January 4, 2014 at 10:48 pm #243039 Reply

Anonymous User
Participant

Hmm, good idea. I'll see what I can do.

Marsha Ward
January 5, 2014 at 3:09 am #243038 Reply

Anonymous User
Participant

Well, that was fun, and took much more time than I really should have spent on it, but here's a link to a post on my blog, Writer in the Pines, where I have a short article about this adventure, and links to both an mp3 file to download/listen to and a pdf file to download/print so your family can learn the words.

Just follow the printing tip for best results.

Enjoy!

~Marsha Ward
January 8, 2014 at 4:21 pm #243037 Reply

Anonymous User
Participant

NEW INFORMATION. "A Very Happy Birthday," credited to Beth Marchant, was published in the January, 1949, issue of "The Children's Friend" magazine. A box to the side says, "A NEW BIRTHDAY SONG. This birthday song is suggested for Primaries in place of the Primary Penny Song."

In 2008, my sister's daughter-in-law discovered this in the BYU Library, and acquired a photo image of the page, which she sent to my sister. I just received the image.

~Marsha Ward
July 27, 2014 at 1:44 pm #243036 Reply

Anonymous User
Participant

Thanks, ladies!

I was searching for this song, just now, that we sang in Primary when I was a chorister in my teens. I wanted to send it via facebook to one of my daughters.

I still sing it to my adult children on their birthdays, along with several others. It's a mother's privilege. : }

FYI: I'll be 70 years young in October.
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